Haskell's and Surdyk's have long been the well-known heavyweights for wine-shopping in the Twin Cities. While they do have some great sales, I'm not convinced they give you the most "bang for your buck" in our fair Cities.
Living in the Midway, I am just a few blocks from a great liquor store with a surprisingly impressive wine selection. While you may not get expert wine advice at "Big Top Liquors," you will find great quantities of wine from all over the world, at competitive prices. My favorite feature is the half-price bin, where you can stock up on perfectly good wine at rock-bottom prices. The bargain-bin is the perfect opportunity to try a new variety without investing a lot of cash. Wine isn't the only product available on the cheap at Big Top. A large beer section houses everything from cases of Bud to obscure domestic microbews. My favorite beer, Newcastle, is often on sale to the point that it's cheaper than Michelob.
Finally, Big Top is convenient. You'll find it on Snelling, right between 94 and University Avenue. Its neighbors are Rainbow Foods and Hollywood Video, so you can park your car once and take care of your food, booze, and entertainment needs.
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